A storm in Sherman, Texas, Monday caused serious damage to the roof of A-American Self Storage.

Someone from a neighboring business called storage manager Steve McGaughty and told him the facilitys roof was flapping in the wind. When he arrived at the facility, he found mangled metal on the ground. The top layer of the roof off one of the facilitys rows of self-storage units was missing. The lower layers of the roof protected the units contents.

The microburst left downed power lines, roofs turn and thousands of dollars in damages to businesses and homes.

UNITS Portable Storage has unveiled the ROBO-UNIT, a delivery system designed to offer mobility and flexibility for portable-storage customers.

The ROBO-UNIT robot delivery system can lift up to 7,000 pounds, move up to 10,000 pounds and can place a storage container anywhere a full-size vehicle can fit. Because of its small size, the ROBO-UNIT can place containers in smaller areas, such as city streets and cul-de-sacs in suburbs. Other improvements to traditional delivery systems, according to the company, include:

• A leveling system to stabilize the container while transporting so items inside wont shift and break.
• Because the ROBO-UNIT carries the container, the truck stays in the street, meaning less property damage to driveways and lawns. 
• An improved safety system securing the container to the truck. The ROBO UNIT locks to the back of the truck giving the container enhanced support and stability.
• Advanced technology that uses a motor and hydraulics.

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Charleston, S.C., UNITS Portable Storage offers portable-storage containers in more than 40 locations throughout the nation.

 

While hundreds of self-storage professionals will flock to the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in New Orleans, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, for the unmatched education program and vendor exhibits, theres another enticement to the show: community interaction and opportunities to learn from peers. For facility managers and owners, the event is a chance to talk shop with other operators, sharing information, stories and a few laughs.

This is where the industry meetswhere we come together to discuss the ideas that work, the challenges we face, and the new strategies that allow us to become better operators, says Benjamin Burkhart, industry consultant and owner of StorageStudy.com.

With the quest for knowledge a top priority, information is freely shared among vendors, managers, owners, developers and consultants at the expo. Im always amazed at the candor and camaraderie among perfect strangers at the ISS shows. I've been privileged to have in-depth conversations with attendees from all parts of the globe, says Gina Six Kudo, a past attendee and manager of Cochrane Road Self Storage in Morgan Hill, Calif.

Justin Jones, owner and manager of Monument Court Storage in Concord, Calif., says the real world information he gleans from other owners and managers is invaluable. Many attendees find that contacts they make at an expo lead to profitable, long-term business relationships. They network before and after seminars as well as in the exhibit hall, comparing notes, trading business cards, and discussing their operations. In addition, the following special events allow for peer-to-peer networking.

Open Forum

The networking begins on day one with the lively Self-Storage Q&A.  This interactive event is attended by folks from all walks of life: managers, owners, investors, vendors, consultants and newcomers. Moderated by industry veterans Jim Chiswell and Mel Holsinger, the forum allows participants to ask their most pressing questions and interact in a casual setting.

Most of us live in our own self-storage world, and it really helps to hear from others about their challenges and opportunities, says Bob Copper, owner of Self Storage 101, a consulting firm specializing in operational improvement, training and market studies. Owners should seek out those who contribute specific ideas and flesh out the particulars. Most owners are transparent with their operations and are more than eager to assist others with similar issues.

Topics discussed at previous shows include grassroots marketing campaigns, what to do with a vehicle in a lien sale, crime prevention, employee training, manager wages and much, much more. Its anything goes at the Q&A. Attendees share experiences, get their questions answered and can even win great giveaways.

Cocktail Reception

Leave your business hat at the door for this happy-hour experience. An expo favorite, this years reception kicks off the grand opening of the exhibit hall. Mingle with fellow attendees and chat with exhibitors over cocktails and hors doeuvres.

Technology Marketplace

Before heading to the info-packed seminars on day two of the expo, stop by the Marketplace and explore the latest in self-storage technology including software, security equipment, kiosks, online directories, call centers and more. Meet with the people behind the scenes and demo products. Its a great way to meet tech experts away from the hustle and bustle of the show floor.

Buyers & Sellers Meeting

If youre in the market to buy or sell a self-storage property, this is the networking event for you. Sellers can post information about their properties on the community bulletin board in the expo hall where all potential buyers can view it. Buyers, be sure to meet up with sellers in your region on day two from noon to 5 p.m. The community board will list the designated area of the exhibit hall and meeting times.

Roundtable Discussions

The roundtable event on the last day of the show is an ideal place to get even more one-one-one time with industry experts. Topics cover everything from building a website and getting most out of your management software to improving or adding ancillary services such as records storage, retail and boat/RV storage. Learn more about how management companies work or the current state of the financing market. Roundtables are led by expo speakers and exhibitors and other industry professionals.

Many attendees take the roundtables for granted, Copper notes. We find these to be a great source of information and encouragement, and the format allows attendees to focus on their specific area of concern.  Attendees should make a point to plan out their roundtable visits for the most effective use of their time.

Self-Storage Talk

Want to meet other managers and owners to swap stories? Head over to the Self-Storage Talk member lounge in the exhibit hall, booth 126. The official ISS online community now boasts more than 3,200 members. Many are expo regulars, so expect to see them at the show. Sign up to become a forum member yourself or meet up with your online friends.

Another SST networking opportunity is happening right now on the Web. To connect with industry experts, speakers, suppliers, managers and owners attending the show, visit www.selfstoragetalk.com and participate in the thread, Inside Self-Storage World Expo New Orleans 2010.

Regardless of which networking events you attend, make the most of them, advises Beverly Docktor, co-manager of All American Self Storage. Bring lots of business cards and talk to all the friendly people at every possible opportunity, including while sitting in the hallways between sessions and on the tradeshow floor, she says. The networking we have done at the expo has given us great ideas to resolve potential problems and makes us feel less isolated.

For the complete agenda, including information on the education tracks, add-on workshops, exhibitors and the host hotel, visit www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.

Cardiff Self Storage in Cardiff, South Glamorgan, United Kingdom, is participating in a charity campaign to encourage college students to donate unwanted items.

The Get It Out For Cardiff campaign is part of the Keep Cardiff Tidy initiative. So far, the collection has netted three tons of clothing to be donated to the Salvation Army, and one ton of food for FareShare, a food-supply organization for the needy. Other charities benefiting from the drive include the British Heart Foundation and Raise and Give.

Cardiff Self Storage is one of many designated drop-off sites. The facility is also storing items during the drive. Campaign organizers report 244 electrical items were donated, many of which were good enough for resale. Organizers hope to keep the campaign going throughout the school year.

Self-storage legal expert Jeffrey Greenberger, who will be presenting at the upcoming Inside Self-Storage World Expo in New Orleans, will co-present a free webinar next month on Seven Words You Should Never Say: Legal Reasons for Taming Your Advertising Claims. On Sept. 15, Greenberger and Joseph Dahlquist, production manager for Chamberlain Access Solutions, will talk about words that should never appear in your advertising and why, how to keep claims about your business reasonable in all communication with customers, and legal reasons to protect your business from potentially misleading marketing messages.

The webinar will take place at 2 p.m. ET. The free registration process can be completed at Ministoragemessenger.com.
 
Based in Cincinnati, Greenberger is an attorney representing self-storage business owners and operators. As legal advisor to several state selfstorage associations, he is a widely known industry consultant, a regular contributor to Inside Self-Storage (ISS) magazine, and the star of the ISS Legal Learning Webinar Series. On Sept. 30, he will teach his Legal Learning Live workshop at the ISS Expo. He will also teach a seminar titled, The Top Legal Threats Your Self-Storage Business Will Face in 2011, as part of the standard Education Package.
 
The ISS Expo will take place Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the New Orleans Marriott, 555 Canal St., in New Orleans. It will comprise three comprehensive tracks of educational seminars, several networking opportunities, product and service exhibits, and add-on intensive workshops. Show information can be found at www.insideselfstorageworldexpo.com.
 
Chamberlain Access Solutions develops and manufactures access control, site security, and facility-management products and services for the self-storage industry.

On Sept. 22, national roofing contractor D.C. Taylor Co. will sponsor a free webinar for self-storage professionals, architects and construction professionals titled, Metal Retrofit: Eliminate Leaks and Reduce Energy Costs. The online event will address the daily weathering effects on roofs and offer options for extending the life of existing roofs while eliminating day-to-day leaks that cost money, upset tenants and damage otherwise rentable storage spaces. Taught by Bill Shanko, regional manager for D.C. Taylor, and Gary Shultz, a representative for Carlisle SynTech Inc., the seminar will cover: 

• Extending the life of your current roof
• Creating a stable environment by reducing expansion and contraction
• Water-resistant roofing with proven performance
• Implementing a COOL roof option and/or additional energy savings
• Improving R-value to save energy
• Preserving existing metal roofs to prevent further deterioration 

The webinar will take place at 2 p.m. ET. The free registration process can be completed at Ministoragemessenger.com.
 
D.C. Taylor Co. has more 60 years of experience in providing roofing solutions for the self-storage industry.

A burglary alarm may have scared away a man who broke into Castle Self-Storage in Boston.

A man smashed the front glass door of the self-storage facility on Aug. 17 and attempted to pry open two interior doors with a hammer, police said.

When the burglar alarm was activated the man fled without taking anything. Video surveillance shows the intruder is a white male in his 30s, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighing about 160 pounds. The man had brown hair and facial hair. Police said he was wearing black pants, a green zip-up sweatshirt and white T-shirt.

SelfStorage.com, a website for self-storage professionals founded by Michael McCune, president of the Argus Self Storage Real Estate Network, has put its online-rental capability in the hands of SpareFoot.com, an online self-storage marketplace. In addition, SelfStorage.com will be expanded to include new tools and content for self-storage facility owners, vendors and real estate brokers.
 
SelfStorage.com will now allow consumers to comparison shop for storage units the same way they shop for airplane tickets or hotel rooms on travel aggregators. SpareFoot began converting SelfStorage.com to its pay-for-performance model in July and expects the overhaul to be completed soon. Website and marketing enhancements are under way to dramatically increase tenant volume delivered to operators listed on the website.
 
After meeting the SpareFoot team and watching their technology in action, it became clear that we needed to work together, said McCune, a 30-year veteran of the self-storage industry. McCune founded SelfStorage.com in 1996.
 
This is a game-changing development in our industry, said SpareFoot CEO Chuck Gordon. Our mission is to make storage more accessible to more tenants than ever before, and this deal is a huge step toward that goal.
 
Argus is a national network of real estate brokers who specialize in self-storage. The company provides brokerage, consulting and marketing services to self-storage buyers and sellers.

SpareFoot has 5,000 storage listings nationwide. The company generates revenue from transaction fees paid by those who list their space.

Amendments to California Assembly Bill 655, intended to improve the states self-storage lien law, passed the Senate on Friday with a 30-0 vote. The measure must now be approved by the State Assembly and be signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger before it becomes law.
 
Championed by the California Self Storage Association (CSSA) with financial support from the national Self Storage Association (SSA), AB 655 modifies the current lien law as it relates to mail-notification protocols and the "Declaration in Opposition to Lien Sale" provision.
 
The bill relaxes notification requirements for self-storage operators, allowing delivery via First Class Mail with certificate of mailing as opposed to the more expensive Certified Mail.
 
In regard to the Declaration, the associations sought to eliminate it completely, but legislators were not open to such a dramatic change. Compromises will result in significant savings to California self-storage operators if the law is passed. The revised law would allow operators to file suit in small-claims court, a much less costly procedure than through the current superior-court system. Operators can still file in superior court when small-claims court is not the best forum, such as with an out-of-state tenant.
 
The revised law also provides storage operators with guidance on when a Declaration can be considered invalid. For example, one of the most common types of defects is when delinquent tenants provide an incorrect address or no address in the Declaration.
 
Another new provision of the law requires the tenant to explicitly state why he believes the lien on his property is invalid. This will require the tenant to articulate why the owner's lien is not legally valid before returning the Declaration. It also gives the facility owner a clear understanding of the customers reasons for returning the Declaration.
 
To view more details about AB 655, visit California AB 655.